Limit Lyme

by Matthew Songin Patient Caseson Posted on

A 24-year-old male presents to the urgent care complaining of a recent tick bite. He reports he went hiking earlier in the day and found a tick bite attached afterwards. He removed the tick but did not keep it. Does he need prophylaxis?

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Best Answer

No

Explanation: Lyme prophylaxis is recommended in high-risk patients. High risk criteria include all of the following 1) tick is identified as Ixodes spp. 2) bite occurred in a highly endemic area and 3) the tick was attached for ≥ 36 hours. Given the history, the tick was unlikely to be attached for ≥ 36 hours, so prophylaxis is not recommended.

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